The Belize Chocolate Festival

This annual events reflects Belize’s rooted history in cacao production, dating back to the times of the Maya, and includes a full programme of chocolate inspired food and drink, great cultural entertainment and activities. Visitors will have a chance to engage with cacao farmers and chocolatiers on the production process, and tour cacao farms and chocolate factories.

The weekend will start off with a “Wine, Chocolate and Belikin Night”, held within the 15,000-acre rainforest reserve at Belcampo Lodge, including live music and the unveiling of the new Belikin Chocolate Stout by the Belize Brewing Company. On Saturday, 25 May, the party will be in the streets of Punta Gorda Town, with music and dance performances from Maya, Garifuna, Mestizo, Creole and East Indian performers, children games and the opportunity to try different chocolate-based dishes and drinks. The festival’s grand finale on Sunday, 26 May, will be held at the Maya temple of Lubaantun, with cocoa grinding and cocoa drinking competitions, art displays, a presentation of the four stages of cocoa production and live entertainment by a Maya indigenous group

Apart from enjoying the locally produced chocolate, visitors to Belize can relax on pristine Caribbean beaches, go diving or snorkelling in the world’s second largest coral reef, or explore the lush jungle on the mainland, which is teeming with wildlife as well as hundreds of hidden Maya temples and palaces. For more information on Belize go to www.travelbelize.org